Tuesday 3 February 2009

Elemental powers

This extraordinary piece of textile art is by Louise Mabbs and called "Elemental Powers". It was made for my friends Janet and Bob and celebrates their 10 years in the city of Sheffield. Bob was an industrial chaplain in the city. Janet has written more about the quilt and its inspirations here.
I normally prefer abstract quilts but what I like about this one is the beauty, lack of sentimentality, the industrial and environtmental themes and the brilliant portrait of the steel worker in the middle.
The quilt has signposts from Land's End to John o'Groats and many 3D elements including a representation of the Angel of the North. During a three month sabbatical in 2003 Bob did this end to end walk (called lejog) and did a diary - an early weblog - which was entitled end to end via the margins. It's a great resource of reflections, photos and prayers from one end of Britain to the other.

1 Comment:

Anonymous said...

Just found your lovely comments about my work back from 2009! so not even sure if it will get through to you.

My husband is also a URC ministers working on the interface between theology and ecology now at Brighthelm in Brighton.

Hope your MS is under control still I and a a step-grandma who's brother lived successfully with it to a ripe old age despite diagnosis in his 20's

Louise M